As a precaution when you have purchased or amended garden soil, water the soil and let it drain two or three times before planting. This helps to “flush” some of the salts from “rich” soils. Wet the soil before planting. This helps reduce root desiccation because of dry soils and “dilutes” salts contained in the soil.
The goal is to water the soil well to saturate it into the planting root zone. And give the soil plenty of time to drain slightly but not dry out completely before you plant.
When planting: Water plants as soon as you get them in the ground. Allow the water to soak in, then water again until the soil is thoroughly moistened. Week one: Water plants daily or every other day. Recently planted roots will absorb moisture from a small area until they begin to grow.
Keep bareroot plants damp after their arrival.
Check the packing material frequently: If it's moist, then so are the roots. If it's dry, the roots are also dry, and you should set them in a bucket of water for several hours before planting to rehydrate them.
Planting in wet soil conditions also creates lumpy soil, which is counterproductive to making seed beds with a fine tilth. Large clumps make it difficult to cover all the seeds to the correct depth and creates an uneven surface that doesn't retain a consistent amount of moisture across the bed.
This soaking will hydrate plants to twice their weight and will provide 30 days of water in the new planting, thus greatly reducing the stress associated with the drying of soil around the roots shortly after planting.
To re-wet, repeatedly sprinkle the surface lightly, making sure there is no run off. Covering the surface with a mulch such as straw, leaves, wood chips, or compost will also help. Eventually the soil will become moist enough to break up. A gentle, steady rain will also do the trick.
Most plants benefit from drying out completely between waterings; some moisture-loving plants like ferns can be watered again when the soil is mostly dry.
The best soil to use when transplanting seedlings
Most are peat based, but you can also buy peat-free potting mixes. It's best to pre-moisten the growing medium before filling your containers. I use a large Rubbermaid tote to mix potting soil with water. Once it's lightly moist, I fill the new pots.
Water thoroughly after repotting to help the soil settle around your plant's roots. Plenty of moisture will also help your plant recover from the move better. If you have a saucer under the pot, make sure to empty it, so your plant doesn't get too soggy.
The best time to water your garden in summer is from 6 am to 10 am—before the heat of the day sets in, giving your plants plenty of time to drink up and any moisture on the leaves to dry off before nightfall. What is this? If watering in the morning isn't possible, the next best time is from 4 pm to 7 pm.
When planting into dry soil, our agronomists recommend going deeper, roughly 3 inches. Research from Iowa state has suggested planting 3 to 3.5-inches deep in clay soils, 4 to 5-inches deep in loam soils, and 5 to 6-inches deep in sandy soils can be considered.
Morning is ideal because it provides sufficient moisture to the plants for the entire day, there is less evaporation caused by wind and heat, and it allows wet foliage to dry out before nightfall. Watering in the evening is not recommended because the foliage does not have enough time to dry before the sun goes down.
One of the most frequent issues plant owners have is overwatering. After watering, the soil around the plant should remain moist for a while to allow the plant to receive the nutrients and water it needs. 2 to 4 hours after watering, the soil should still be moist.
It is often the hot climate or mild winters coupled with sparse rainfall which can cause havoc with the soil. Generally, the hydrophobic nature of any soil boils down to the waxy residue which builds upon the surface, resulting in it repelling water instead of usually absorbing it.
Use organic mulch like grass clippings, sawdust, straw, or shredded leaves for optimum retention of moisture. 3. Plant Shade: Planting shade-loving plants will help protect your soil from direct sunlight which can quickly cause water to evaporate.
When you're preparing your garden beds for a new season, don't rip your plants out of the ground, roots and all. If you do, you'll be robbing your soil microbes of a good meal and degrading your long-term soil fertility.
Plant roots need oxygen. When soil is too wet or waterlogged, the oxygen content is reduced and minimal oxygen is absorbed by the plant roots. With excess water, plant beds may behave like sponges in a bowl of water, holding in water and excluding oxygen.
Make a quick check of soil moisture conditions by taking a handful of soil from planting depth (or tillage depth if planning on doing tillage) and press it in your hands to make a mud ball. If wet soil sticks to your hand, it's probably too wet.
For seeds to germinate, you need to keep the growing soil damp but not too wet. Learning how to water seedlings is pivotal for success. Many seed starters cover the container to keep soil moist until seeds germinate. Once seeds sprout, do not miss a watering.
Seeds need moisture to germinate, but the seeds will rot if the soil is overly wet. If the seed-starting medium is too dry, moisture will not penetrate the seed coat and signal the seeds to sprout. Saturated soil will cause the seed to rot.
During really hot weather, water your vegetables at least two to three times a week. Watering the garden deeply is critical. The water must go down, down, down to encourage deep roots and get away from the hot soil surface.